This is the best meatloaf recipe ever! This traditional meatloaf recipe is just like mom used to make, made with ground beef and a sweet and tangy glaze topping.
What Makes A Really Good Meatloaf
I think the trick to good meatloaf is using lean ground beef. The problem with a lot of meatloaf recipes is that they call for ground beef with a high fat content. As the meatloaf cooks, the fat cooks out and makes a greasy mess. Not this recipe!
How To Keep It Moist
You may be thinking, but won’t lean ground beef make the meatloaf dry? Not at all! The milk, egg, ketchup, and diced onion in the meat mixture are all working to keep the meatloaf moist and delicious.
Loaf Pan Versus Baking Sheet
I prefer to use a loaf pan because it keeps all the glaze in place perfectly and the meat is juicier. But, you could line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Shape the meatloaf into a loaf shape. Top with the glaze. And, bake as normal.
How To Make The Best Meatloaf
*Note: This is a summary. The full printable recipe card is at the bottom of this post.
Make the Meatloaf:
- Add 90% lean ground beef to a large bowl.
- Add dried bread crumbs and some diced onion.
- Add milk, an egg, ketchup, and worcestershire sauce.
- Add dried parsley, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
- Mix it together REALLY well.
- Pour the meat mixture into a loaf pan.
- Spread it into a flat even layer.
Make the Ketchup Glaze
- Add ketchup, brown sugar, and red wine vinegar to a bowl.
- Whisk until combined.
- Pour the glaze over the meatloaf.
- Bake it!
- Let it cool before slicing.
Can This Be Made Ahead Of Time
Absolutely! Just cover the loaf pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate it until you’re ready for it. Then, uncover it and let it come to room temperature as you’re preheating the oven.
Can This Be Frozen
Yes! Prepare the meatloaf, put it in a loaf pan, and top with glaze according to the recipe directions. Cover the pan and freeze.
Place the frozen meatloaf in the refrigerator to thaw about 24 hours before you want to bake it. Then, uncover it and let it come to room temperature as you’re preheating the oven.
I’ve been playing around with this recipe for the past few months, making it many times. And, I didn’t mind the repetition at all because I do believe I ended up with the best classic meatloaf recipe ever. 🙂
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The Best Classic Meatloaf Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 lb. 90% lean ground beef
- 1 cup dried bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup diced yellow onion
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 large egg beaten
- 2 tbsp. ketchup
- 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp. dried parsley leaves
- 3/4 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
- For the Topping:
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp. packed light brown sugar
- 1 tbsp. red wine vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit.
- In a large bowl, add the beef, bread crumbs, onion, milk, egg, 2 tablespoons ketchup, worcestershire sauce, parsley, salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Use your hands to mush and mix these ingredients together until well combined.*
- Add the meat mixture to a loaf pan. Pat the meat down into an even layer.
- In a small bowl, add ¼ cup ketchup, the brown sugar, and vinegar. Stir to combine. Pour the sauce on top of the meatloaf and spread it into an even layer.
- Bake uncovered for 55 minutes.
- Let the meatloaf rest for 8-10 minutes before serving (or it may fall apart).**
Notes
Nutrition
Check out all of my great ground beef recipes.
I have made this many times and is one of my favourites. Sliced cold and put into sandwiches the next day is delicious.
I LOVE this recipe! I’ve been making this meatloaf for about 3 years now. Every person I serve it to asks for the recipe. This is literally the first time I have ever left a comment on a recipe before but I just had to say thank you. This is awesome.
Hubby and the rest of the family LOVED this recipe! This is the 2nd time I’ve used this particular recipe to the T…and it didn’t disappoint! So good!!! Thank you for sharing!
My family LOVES this meatloaf! In fact my grandson made it for a contest at Boy Scout summer camp and won the Golden Spoon award. Five stars all the way.
Loved this – nice glaze the husband raves about – made it four or five times over the last year and again tonight.
This was incredible!! A simple dish that is delicious.
I did use white wine vinegar the second time I made it, but it worked just as well as the red wine vinegar I used the first time.
Simply delicious. Thank you.
Delicious! Easy to fix!
I tried swapping out gluten free panko breadcrumbs and the flavor was amazing but the texture was too soft and mushy. Any ideas on how to combat that?
MY FAMILY LOVES THIS! Always perfectly delicious!
This meatloaf is delicious and BONUS it is very easy to make ! Thank you for this yummy recipe
This is my second time making it. It is really good! I only had 85% ground beef so I baked it on a baking sheet. One trick I used was to microwave the minced onion for a minute. Last time the onion was still a bit crunchy. I also followed another reviewer’s tip to mix the liquid and seasoning separately first, then add to meat, bread crumbs and onion. I cut the brown sugar to a tablespoon (too sweet last time). Bumped up the S&P & Worcestershire a bit too. Enjoyed a yum dinner at 60 mins cook time. Thanks so much!!
I have tried many meatloaf recipes, and this IS by far the BEST meatloaf recipe I have found!! I have made it for friends, for company, and for myself several times now. I appreciate the fact it’s not that difficult to prepare and it really does taste like the meatloaf my grandmother used to make. Thank you!
This is my go-to recipe for meatloaf. It’s perfect just the way it’s written; however, I have to use dried minced onion instead of fresh for my kids otherwise they call it Mom’s onion loaf!
Mine too!
Great classic meatloaf! My picky husband loved it too. My two cents: sauté your onions! It makes them more fragrant and soft. And use a meat thermometer. Every oven cooks differently. Meatloaf should reach a minimum of 160F. I used 85/15% ground beef, no issues with that. I didn’t have vinegar and used another glaze recipe: 1/3 cup ketchup, 2 tbs light brown sugar, 1/2 tbs worchestire sauce. The glaze turned our sweet and smokey, almost with a hint of bbq. Hope this helps someone.
I am not a meatloaf fan until now! I’ve made this over and over for my family of 5. My kids love it as well (ages 9, 6, and 4)!
I’ve made this delicious meatloaf for years now..
It is so yummy 😋 everyone that I’ve served it to also loves it ❤️🙏
Best meatloaf we’ve ever had!
Turned out great. Love this classic!!!!
My husband and Mother-in-Law said it was the best they ever had! Plus, my daughters went back for second helpings! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Delicious! Ive made this twice, it’s too hot for oven so I use my ninja foodi on bake, learned the first time, bake for 30 minutes then add glaze to top or it burns badly. Lesson learned lol
I absolutely love this, I’m not a meatloaf person but this is good and the whole family loves it. I use ground turkey with no issues.
Amazing came out great
Well, I guesd I can say I’ve used all those ingredients, minus the milk, for years. And that’s was Mom’s old recipe. WAY TO GO MOM!❤️
She’s from the South, so growing up I had homemade salad dressing, sweet potato pies from scratch. I have to say, this recipe is a Winner!